Jennifer Rodewald's Blog, page 6

Launch Day

Today is the day! Blue Columbine is live on Amazon.

~”Delicate. Humorous. And plumbing the depths of God’s redeeming love.”

~”This book does not disappoint. Instead it takes you through the emotional upheaval of loving someone with a problem you can’t solve–and lets you witness the glory of the One who can.”

Best friends—maybe more—until addiction shatters everything.

Reeling from professional failure, Andrew Harris needs a fresh start. When he moves back to Colorado to join a Denver law firm, he runs into Jamie, his childhood sweetheart. She is still the kind and faithful girl he remembers—not to mention beautiful and still single. With her by his side, Andrew is confident he can overcome the demons that he tries to keep hidden.

Jamie Carson is thrown off balance when Andy resurfaces in her life. Though her faith in God has remained solid, even through her mother’s long illness and after her death, Jamie battles loneliness. Andy fills her days, whispering significance to her heart. But his rejection of the faith she thought they’d once shared, and his alarming drinking habit keep her heart from plunging into deep, murky waters. Or do they?

Andy pursues an intimacy Jamie knows she must guard against. But as the line between loyalty and love blurs, things get complicated—until a devastating blow breaks their relationship. For Jamie, one thing becomes clear: Andy needs a miracle, and she isn’t it.

Will Andrew allow the hand of grace to redeem his legacy of addiction, or will he and Jamie both remain casualties of heartbreak?

Music that Heals

My MC needed to hear this today. I can’t tell you how much music inspires my writing. This song is amazing…

Counting Down

Write a book, proofread, and then print, right? Not so much. Production of Blue Columbine, my debut novel, has been in the works for over five years. Granted, it doesn’t always take that long…I started writing the manuscript when my youngest was two, and I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. Blue has been edited three times, rewritten at least six times (I quit keeping track, it was depressing), been through nearly a dozen critique partners and half as many beta readers, and is currently being proofed for its grand entry into the world.  All that to say, writing is work. Hard work. Sometimes gut twisting work. Sometimes an excercise in self discipline kind of work.

But it is the work I love. And soon….oh so soon, I’ll get to turn out the product of my labor. I’m so excited. And scared! I feel like I did the first time I stood on top of a fourteener and thought, “what the heck am I doing here?” But sometimes fear is part of the adventure, right?

I’ve written a book. I did the work. And now it’s time to release it to the world… Finally. The summit of this peak. Just two weeks away.

So, what’s it about?

The slow trickle of news has a predictable outcome…

“Oh, you wrote a book? What’s it about?”

So glad you asked… ;)

If you wander over to the WIP page, you’ll find back cover blurbs for all the books I’ve been working on. Here, however, I thought it would be fun to post a snippet from a deleted scene in Blue Columbine. Just for flavor.

Jamie pushed through a murky tunnel of swirling emotions, a walk known by those who smack hard against a cold wall disillusionment. Exit. She forced her feet onward. Just get away. Nothing else mattered.

“Goodbye? What does that mean?” Andy’s scathing voice echoed in her mind, prickling a chill along her arms. “How could you Jamie? How could you do this to a friend?”

Her heart felt thick and heavy, like a wet pair of jeans clinging to her skin, pulling her down as the water closed over her head. Drowning. She was drowning in the enormity of all they’d been through—and now it was over.  Her hands trembled as she shoved the door open, White Pines Recovery cut out in vinyl and stuck against the glass. Recovery didn’t seem likely. Andy had taken them both down, and she couldn’t see a way out.

God, how could you let this happen?

Ever Calling

If You Give a Writer a Pencil

My fourth grade daughter wrote a circle story this spring and she was asked to read it to the school board last night. So exciting! In honor of that fabulous occassion, and because I like a fun diversion, I thought I’d give it a go…. so here it is.

If You Give a Writer a Pencil

If you give a writer a pencil, she’ll ask you for a piece of paper. You’ll give her a piece of paper, and she’ll sit and stare at it. A lot. Nothing will come to her, so she’ll continue to stare. Staring at the paper without any inspiration will make her want chocolate. She’ll go to the kitchen where the secret stash is kept. On her way to the secret stash, she’ll pass the coffee maker. She’ll think that coffee goes well with chocolate, so she will make some. Making the coffee will remind her that she should visit the bathroom. On the way, she’ll stub her pinky toe on the bathtub. It will hurt. A lot. She will think it is broken, so she will need to go to the doctor’s office. When she gets to the doctor’s office, she will be asked to fill out a bunch of papers. Holding the papers she’ll realize she didn’t bring a writing utensil. And chances are, if she didn’t bring a writing utensil…

She’ll ask you to borrow a pencil.

(I really did stub my toe today, just in case you were wondering. No doctors were involved however, I will accept any sympathy sighs you feel swelling inside your compassionate little tummies.) :)

Finally…

Coming soon!

I’m pleased to share that Blue Columbine, a Christian Novel, will be releasing on Amazon later this spring! It’s been a journey, and the road keeps twisting and turning, but it’s been a joy, an education, and an opportunity to meet some amazing new people. I’m thrilled, to say the least! To celebrate, I’m sharing the cover for my very first fiction release.

 

Welcome

Thank you for stopping by. The cry of my heart is to honor King Jesus. I pray that the words that flow from my heart, through the key board, and to your eyes lift your spirit to worship Him.

This life adventure is full of new twists, and I’m excited to share some of them with you. Please stop by thefreeslavesdevotion.com to visit with me and my wonderful writing partner, Susan Roach, as we explore who we are in Christ.

Don’t skip the Grace Revealing page. Stories that shout the praises of our King should not be overlooked, and I’d love for you to share yours.

If you’re interested in the fiction projects I am currently working on, please check out the WIP (that’s Work In Progress) page.

I’m certainly no miracle worker, but prayer is a gift from our Heavenly Father. If I can pray for you in any way, I’d love for you to contact me. Just fill out the form and I’ll be in touch.

Thanks again for stopping by. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.